Combination spring and attachment



y 1939- H. TAMPKIN 2,164,962

COMBINATION SPRING AND ATTACHMENT Filed May 12, 1937 INVENTOR Iy/mZ/r' Z ATTORNEY Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to helical springs which are provided with attachments formed as separate parts having means for engaging over wires or supporting coil springs of bed springs or the like.

Usually the engaging means for helical springs are bent out and formed from the same as elements integral therewith, which requires special wire machinery. An object of this invention is to dispense with the necessity for such machinery by preferably retaining the helical shape throughout the length of each such helical spring, and to secure to its preserved end coils an attachment having wire engaging means.

Other objects are to provide reasonably inexpensive helical springs for bed springs, cushions and the like; helicals which may be readily applied for use; and helicals which will stay put in the position in which they are originally installed and which eliminate such noises in bed springs, etc., as arise from using the ordinary helicals.

The objects being among those stated, the invention may be understood from the description hereinafter, in connection with drawing showing preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of attachment;

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the attachment secured to a spring;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation on line 44, Fig. 3, showing the device when first engaged over a wire;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, except that it shows the device as finally secured to a wire;

Fig. 6 is a plan showing the device connecting two supporting coil springs; and

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate a modification, Fig. 7 being a View similar to Fig. 5, and Fig. 8 a section on line 8-8, Fig. '7.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the helical wire tension spring 10 is shown as having a preferably sheet metal attachment H secured thereto. The helical coils of spring 10 are retained, preferably from end to end thereof, as the attachment is preferred to be secured directly to the end coils, without the need of deforming or bending them.

It is preferred that the parts of one-piece attachment ll be of bendable or pliable metal of sufficient strength to accomplish their purpose. The attachment shown comprises a base 52 and a tongue or arm l3 integral therewith. The base l2 may be secured to the end coils of the helicals in any convenient reliable manner, and it is preferred to shape the same semi-circularly so as to fit over and snugly receive the upper halves of the end coils and to provide an upper shield or cover to protect the mattress or the like against damage. The opposite edges of the base may be curled inwardly or beaded.

Tongue or arm I3 is in the shape of a narrow width or strip of metal and extends from the middle of one edge of base l2 across the coils diametrically thereof, and when of bendable metal it is formed so as to have a preliminary set position, which is more or less inclined with respect to such edge and so as to extend transversely of the end coils when the attachment is applied thereto.

The bendable tongue l3 has a short outward bend or preformed inward seat 14 adjacent to the edge of base l2, and is preferably deflected inwardly along its mid-length, while its outer end portion is bent inwardly at an angle to its body, thus forming a hook element [5 which is provided with a beak or catch I6 that projects inwardly toward the base 12. Said bend l4 provides an inwardly presented seat which is adapted to receive a wire or the upper coil of a spring, as shown in Fig. 4, when the attachment has been applied to the helical spring and an inwardly projecting base-catch I! has been engaged between the helical coils.

To apply the preferred form of attachment to a helical spring such as shown, the catch Il may be first engaged under the extremity thereof and then the attachment screwed on, to position it, or it may be snapped in place and positioned and held in any other desirable way. Then, with the base member l2 presented upward, the tongue I3 is engaged over a wire or coil to position the latter in the seat M (Fig. 4.), and suitable force is applied to the tongue to bend it inwardly to such position that the beak or catch 5 will hook upon one of the coils of the helical spring, at which time the latter and the other wire or coil will be securely locked together as in Fig. 5, and the tongue I3 will bind upon such wire or coil and not slip there-along. The wire or coil 20 will then also be bound, at points at each end of seat I4, against the shoulders of the base which are formed by the transverse edges of the side portions of the base which extend away from the point of connection of the tongue I3 with the base. As the seat I4 is offset from the longitudinal axis of helical spring I0, the middle portion of the base will be at the top of the assembly and the coil 20 also at the top in substantial alignment with such middle portion to provide a substantially even support thereat for the mattress. It is preferred that the hands only of the workman be used, so as to avoid the use of tools. When the helical connecting device is to connect two supporting springs l8, H), as of a bed spring, the top coils 20 thereof are engaged in a similar manner by attachments l I at both ends of a helical spring ID, as shown in Fig. 6.

In the modification shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the tension spring 2|, the base 22, the tongue 23 and seat 24 are the same as previously described. However, the hook 25 has a less span than hook l5. Also, to supplement catch 26, additional catches 21, 28, are struck out inwardly from the base 22.

Obviously various other changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit thereof as covered by the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a helical wire tension spring and an attachment having a transversely and substantially semi-circularly curved sheet-metal base embracing the side of one end of the spring, the base having an inwardly projecting catch engaging with said end of the spring, and said base also having a relatively narrow tongue extending inwardly thereof, side portions of the base extending to opposite sides of the point of connection of the tongue with the base and the transverse edges of the side portions extending away from said point forming shoulders, and the tongue deformed outwardly adjacent said point of connection to provide a preformed inward seat ofiset from the axis of the spring for receiving a wire passing over said shoulders and holding it between said seat and shoulders.

2. A sheet-metal attachment formed with a base for embracing the end of a helical spring, a member extending inwardly from the base for engagement between the coils of the spring, and a seat member in the form of a narrow tongue extended from the middle of the base, its seat preformed and presented inwardly, and located close up to the base between opposite side portions of the base, and the attachment being inwardly bendable at the point of connection of one of the members with the base to engage a wire entered into such seat and bind it therein against the side portions of the base at each end of said seat.

HYMAN TAMPKIN. 

